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Use analysis tools

In this topic

  1. Use the Mark Up tool
  2. Use the Count tool
  3. Use the Measure tool
  4. Use deep learning
  5. Use the NDVI tool
  6. Use the Raster Templates tool

Imagery may contain information that can be analyzed to help accomplish tasks. The analysis tools contain features to highlight areas of interest through markup, labeling, and measurement.

Each analysis tool can only be used in the Map Panel if a video layer or oriented imagery layer is the primary analysis layer.

Use the Mark Up tool

The markup tools allow you to create simple graphics using text and shape elements to call attention to areas of interest.

Create markup

To create markup, complete the following steps:

  1. Click the Tools menu in the canvas.
  2. In the Analysis Tools list, click Mark Up.
  3. Choose a geometry:
    • Point—Click the map to drop a point.
    • Line—Click the map to draw a line segment. Double-click to complete the line.
    • Rectangle—Click and drag the map to draw a rectangle.
    • Polygon—Click the map to draw at least three segments. Double-click to complete the polygon.
    • Text label—Type text in the input box, and click the map to drop a label.

    You can only create markup in the Map Panel if you are connected to a video layer or oriented imagery layer.

  4. Optionally, before drawing mark up, customize mark up with the following options based on the geometry you chose:
    • Size
    • Style
    • Outline
    • Fill
    • Width
    • Transparency
    • Font Color (Text label only)
    • Font Size (Text label only)
    • Name
    • Description

To edit or delete an existing markup, open the Mark Up tool, and click directly on the corresponding markup graphic on the image. To delete all markup, click the Clear All Mark Up button. All graphics will be deleted.

Note:

You can save markup when an Excalibur project is created or saved. For more information, see Save markup to a project.

Use the Count tool

The Count tool allows you to count objects manually by marking each object with a graphic. The Count tool places a point graphic where you click and keeps a total count associated with each point graphic as it is added.

To count objects, complete the following steps:

  1. Click the Tools menu in the canvas.
  2. In the Analysis Tools list, click Count.
  3. Optionally, in Style Properties, change the following properties of the point graphic that will be created:
    • Fill Color
    • Outline Color
    • Size
    • Style
  4. Optionally, in Count Options, set the following:
    • Start At—The number that the count will begin at once a count is started (1–100).
    • Increment By—The increment that the count will increase after the first count graphic is added (1–10).

    For example, if you set Start At to 2 and set Increment By to 2, the following pattern would be expected: 2, 4, 6, 8, and so on.

  5. Click Reset to reset the style properties and count options and to clear any current count graphics.
  6. Once the style properties and count options are set, click Start Count to begin counting .
  7. Click in the Map Panel or Focus Panel to create a count graphic at that location, and, optionally, continue clicking to add more count graphics.

    You can only create count graphics in the Map Panel if you are connected to a video layer or oriented imagery layer.

    The Count Total value updates based on the count start and increment numbers.

  8. Optionally, once count graphics are added to the map, set the following:
    • Undo Last Count—Remove the last count graphic that was placed. You can continue to use this to undo actions for a sequential removal of count graphics.
    • Clear Count—Remove all count graphics.
  9. Click Stop Count when the count workflow is complete.
Note:

You can change the Increment By setting when an active count has been stopped.

Use the Measure tool

Measuring ground features in imagery, called image mensuration, is an important function in many image interpretation or feature compilation applications. The Measure tool allows you to measure horizontal and vertical distances, areas, and feature locations on an image in map and image space. The Measure tool also allows you to conduct 3D measurements on imagery in the Focus Panel. The available measurement tool options depend on the metadata and capabilities set on the web layer.

To calculate measurements in the map and focus views, complete the following steps:

  1. Click Tools in the canvas.
  2. In the Analysis Tools list, click Measure.
  3. Choose the measurements type:
    • Map Measurements—Map measurements can only be performed in the Map Panel. Distance and area are the only measurements available to perform.
    • Image Measurements—Image measurements can only be performed in the Focus Panel. The available image measurements are based on information from the image metadata and capabilities on the image service.
  4. Click a measurement to perform.
  5. From the drop-down list, choose the units to display.

    Note:
    The available units to display are based on the measurement type selected. Point and centroid measurements will automatically generate unit results.

  6. Click the map or image to create a measurement.

    The Measurement Results list will automatically populate based on the units selected and the underlying sensor model and information from the image service.

  7. Optionally, select one or more of the following:
    • Hide measurement on map—Turn the visibility of the measurement off.
    • Hide label on map—Turn the visibility of the measurement label off.
    • Copy to clipboard—Copy the results to the clipboard.
    • Clear from list—Remove the measurement from the map and the Measurements Results list.

    If the measurement conducted was a distance measurement type with multiple vertices, the segments will appear in the Measurement Results list where information and options for each segment can be viewed and turned on and off.

  8. Click Clear All to remove all measurements from the Map Panel and the Measurements Results list.

Use deep learning

Deep learning models can be used to automate recording observations and extracting features from an image-based analysis layer in the project. The Deep Learning tool is available if the project's analysis layer is an ArcGIS imagery layer, ArcGIS tiled imagery layer, or ArcGIS tile layer. For more information about requirements to use this tool see Requirements.

To learn how to use this tool, see Use Deep Learning models.

Note:

The Deep Learning tool is only available with ArcGIS Online.

Use the NDVI tool

The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is used to measure the greenness, also known as relative biomass, of vegetation by calculating the differential reflection between the red and infrared bands. This index uses the contrast of characteristics between two bands from a multispectral raster dataset—the chlorophyll pigment absorption in the red band, and the high reflectivity of plant material in the near-infrared (NIR) band. NDVI is used worldwide to monitor drought, monitor and predict agricultural production, assist in predicting hazardous fire zones, and map desert encroachment.

NDVI is available if the project's analysis layer is a multiband ArcGIS imagery layer or ArcGIS tiled imagery layer. For additional requirements needed to use this tool, see Requirements.

To use the NDVI tool, complete the following steps:

  1. Click Tools in the canvas.
  2. In the Analysis Tools list, click NDVI.
  3. Select Use the view extent or Draw an area for the Area of Interest value. For Use the view extent, pan and zoom in the Map Panel to the desired area. For Draw an area, click Draw Area Rectangle, and draw the extent in the Map Panel.

    Once enabled, click Cancel Pencil to cancel the drawing.

  4. Set the Visible Band ID value to the ID of the red band.

    The Visible Band ID value represents the red part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

  5. Set the Infrared Band ID value to the ID of the infrared band.

    The Infrared Band ID value represents the near-infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

  6. Select a Colormap value for the output:
    • NDVI—Values near zero are blue. Low values are brown. Then the colors gradually change from red, to orange, to yellow, to green, and to black as the vegetation index goes from low to high.
    • NDVI2—Low values range from white to green. Then the colors range from gray, to purple, to violet, to dark blue, and to black as the vegetation index goes from low to high.
    • NDVI3—Values near zero are blue. Then the colors gradually change from red, to orange, and to green as the vegetation index goes from low to high. This is the default.
  7. Provide a Layer Name value for the output layer.
  8. Optionally, change the output Folder location to a different folder, or create a folder.
  9. Click Run.

    Alternatively, click Reset Reset to reset the tool parameters.

The results appear in the canvas and in the Layers list when the tool completes successfully. Any errors in the process are returned by the server and displayed in the tool.

Use the Raster Templates tool

The Raster Templates tool allows you to select raster function templates that can be used for conducting imagery and raster analysis. Raster function templates are combinations of raster functions that are used to create a specific visualization or analysis that can be repeated. Raster function templates can be created through the Raster Function Editor in Map Viewer or ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS AllSource, and used in ArcGIS Excalibur for analysis.

The Raster Templates tool is available if the project's analysis layer is an ArcGIS imagery layer or ArcGIS tiled imagery layer. For additional requirements needed to use this tool, see Requirements.

To use the Raster Templates tool, complete the following steps:

  1. Click Tools in the canvas.
  2. In the Analysis Tools list, click Raster Templates.
  3. Select Add Template to open the Raster Function Templates browser.
  4. Search for and select the templates you want to add.
  5. Once selected, click Add to add the templates to the tool.
  6. Click theOptions button next to a template to open it, view the details, or remove the template.
  7. Click Open to open the template.
  8. Select Use the view extent or Draw an area for the Area of Interest value. For Use the view extent, pan and zoom in the Map Panel to the desired area. For Draw an area, click Draw Area Rectangle, and draw the extent in the Map Panel.

    Once enabled, click Cancel Pencil to cancel the drawing.

  9. Provide any inputs needed for the different raster functions in the template.
  10. Provide a Layer Name value for the output layer.
  11. Optionally, change the output Folder location to a different folder, or create a folder.
  12. Click Run.

    Alternatively, click Reset Reset to reset the tool and return to the list of templates.

The results appear in the canvas and in the Layers list when the tool completes successfully. Any errors in the process are returned by the server and displayed in the tool or in the Job Status panel.

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In this topic
  1. Use the Mark Up tool
  2. Use the Count tool
  3. Use the Measure tool
  4. Use deep learning
  5. Use the NDVI tool
  6. Use the Raster Templates tool